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Epidemiological characteristics of the measles outbreak and measles vaccine coverage in Kosova

Posted on March 16, 2021 0

Edita Goranci-Haxhiu1, AlbanaMorina2

1 National Institute of Public Health, Pristina, Kosova;

2 Ministry of Health, Pristina, Kosova.

Aim: Promoting the importance of immunization in preventing eventual communicable disease outbreak. Correlation between immunization through the application of the measles vaccine and the incidence of the disease in Kosova during the 2017 and 2018 period.

Methods: A total number of clinical cases with lab positive results during measles outbreak 2017/2018. Laboratory test for measles clinical cases, immunization record, data collection, the application of a questionnaire which aims to collect data on socio-demographic aspects, disease  information and health status of suspected cases confirmed from the Primary Care Institute and Infection Disease Health Clinic. Immunization coverage with MMR vaccine (2012-2018).

Results: From 1050 cases investigated, 68% were laboratory confirmed. In 2017, 527 confirmed cases were reported in total with an index case in June. Peak of the case reported was on September 2017. From December’17 cases rapidly decreased. Till the end of outbreak, the incidence was 0.49. Measles infection reached all group ages but a higher infection rate was among unvaccinated children under 12 months (Mb/1000 4.8) and 1-4 years of age (Mb/1000 1.5); 392/721 cases (Mb/1000 was 6.52) are children under 6 years of age. There is no significance on the distribution of measles cases between female (46%) and male gender (54%). Based on the evidence from all confirmed cases 90.9% were unvaccinated, 9% with no data. Routine vaccination coverage rate with MMR was over 95%.

Conclusion: The research results show that the majority of positive cases were infants up to 12 months old, before their first MMR vaccine. Current epidemiological situation of measles is favorable due to high vaccination coverage. This research can conclude the role of immunization to control measles outbreak.

Keywords: immunization, laboratory test, measles.

Session 4

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